Roller Furler Choice

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Chris Blubaugh

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Oct 3, 2007
70
MacGregor 26D Salem Harbor
can anyone give me the lowdown on CDI furlers (FF2) vs. Plastimo furlers? For a trailerable boat, what is the better choice?
The Plastimo I was reading about had two grooves - what's the value of having two grooves, anyway?:confused:
 
dscribner

dscribner

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Nov 9, 2008
1,338
Pearson-O'Day 290 Portland Maine
I am a fellow trailer sailor with a CDI furler. I love it; maybe not the CDI part but the furler part. If you haven't trailered with one before, keep in mind that the furler needs to be able to flex without kinking. My CDI has an exrtuded PVC (I think) foil so it takes the rigors of stepping quite well. You'll need to support it in transit too. The photo was my answer to the problem. The mast cover has all the straps sewn in as well as an acrylic cylinder and some support rods to keep everything in line and supported on the road.
 

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Joe

Joe

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Jun 1, 2004
8,323
Catalina 27 Mission Bay, San Diego
From what I can determine by looking at the Plastimo products on their website http://www.plastimo.com/catalogue/index.php?LangID=1&catid=7 it is a rigid foil system. The quality and design appears better than the CDI models.... however.... the rigid foil design is not desirable for a trailer sailor application. I suggest you compare the CDI's flexible furler with this SeaFlex model, made by Hood http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|118|77896|299747&id=136615

BTW... twin grooved foils allow the racing sailor to change headsails more effeciently. Cruising sailors use the feature to hoist twin headsails, poled out wing on wing, for long downwind legs, in lieu of a spinnaker.
 
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CaptDon01

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Nov 19, 2008
2,129
Catalina C-22 MK-II Parrish, FL
We have a Catalina-22 MK-II with the CDI furler. We occasionally trailer the boat several times a year. I was a bit reluctant at first about the CDI unit.....I'm from the old school, and liked hank-on sails with a down-haul. But, I must say, we LOVE our CDI unit. Operates flawlessly, it's simple, and the price is right. If you intend on trailering, it's the best way to go.

Two groves would allow you to change head sails. Now we don't cross oceans with our boat. If the wind pipes-up, we can reef or furl. If the wind is too strong, we either furl the genoa or drop the main and sail under single sail. If the wind gets stronger, I drop the sails and fire up the iron genny. I love to sail, but I huess I'm not a purest....

Don
 
Bob 04 H260

Bob 04 H260

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May 16, 2007
1,509
Boatless ! 26 Ottawa, Ontario
I trailer my boat quite a bit. When I bought it, it came with a CDI furler. There are many sailors using these and are quite happy with them.
I did not like the CDI at all. After a year of use I removed it and replaced it with a Schaefer Snap Furl 700. My last boat had a Snap Furl on it and I was always very pleased with it. If you look at the design, quality of materials there is no comparison between the two. Worth much more than the small difference in cost.
Bob
 
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Barnacle Bill

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Jun 9, 2008
1,850
- -- -Bayfield
The CDI system works fine despite its simple design. If you want to do headsail changes, say for racing, then you might prefer the SnapFurl system. The CDI system does not use your jib halyard, but incorporates their own system for raising your headsail. The SnapFurl uses you existing halyards. So, that is one big difference between the two. I am not familiar with the Plastimo system, but will look at it at Annapolis.
 
OldCat

OldCat

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Jul 26, 2005
728
Catalina , Nacra 5.8, Laser, Hobie Hawk Wonmop, CO
parttimesailor said:
can anyone give me the lowdown on CDI furlers (FF2) vs. Plastimo furlers? For a trailerable boat, what is the better choice?
The Plastimo I was reading about had two grooves - what's the value of having two grooves, anyway?:confused:
Click to expand
On a small trailerable boat, I am happy with my CDI. The only significant problem is the small diameter furling line, and even that is not bad if you use sailing gloves. I am not familiar with the Plastimo, but I would not spend more money than the cost of the CDI on my fairly inexpensive trailer sailor.

OC
 
Capt. Kermie

Capt. Kermie

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Jun 8, 2004
550
Macgregor 26M Delta, B.C. Canada 26M not X
An alternative that has not been mentioned yet:
Schaefer Snapfurl CF700
This is a very good quality furler and does cost a tad more than CDI but you get what you pay for. It has a flexible foil but no internal halyard, you use the jib halyard to hoist the sail up the foil. I have one and have compared it along side others' CDI furlers and feel that the Schaefer unit is a superior one but that is just my opinion. I also have a traileable boat so that is why I chose the Schaefer flexible system. Most folks already have a CDI and they are robust enough to do the job and there are more of them out there, hense the widespread endorsement. You would do well to check out the Schaefer unit though even if you do not buy it, still worth evaluating.
 
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bffatcat

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Jun 8, 2004
853
Pearson 26W Marblehead
Ive had a CDI furler model ff4on my pearson 26w for the last 3 seasons the furler is simple and works flawlessly. I got a friend with a 30 year old CDI on a seafarer 25 It still works fine.
These furlers are popular for a reason and its not all about price. They are proven and dependable
 
Tom

Tom

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Sep 25, 2008
73
Lancer 28 T Great Lakes
I have a CDI furler, not one problem in 10 years.

tom
S/V Gaia
 
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